your diet when breastfeeding?

[ladymilly]

hi ladies. just have a question for you. i am planning on breastfeeding all going well but just wondered if you still have to avoid the foods you do when your pregnant when your breastfeeding? thanks ladies

 

[Carley]

When I pumped for my daughter, I kept a normal diet, I was hungry more but I didn't make changes. I have a friend who had to give up diary because it gave daughter hives. But it's different for everyone

 

[anita665]

I think you can almost have whatever you want.

Don't have too much caffine or you'll have problems with a baby that doesn't want to sleep. Some people find it's best to avoid spicy foods because it can upset babies belly but I personally haven't found it a problem. Also alcohol obviously, although beer is meant to be good for milk production in moderation.

I found I didn't have much of an appetite when I first gave birth though.

 

[Serene123]

My appitite is rubbish. I keep forgetting to eat. I didn't know food effected it so much?

 

[Samantha675]

I also avoid foods that are gas causing.

 

[marley2580]

Nah, you can pretty much eat anything unless you find something in your diet doesn't agree with your baby. You'll also find that your appetite will vanish for the first few weeks - don't worry, it will return, that's why your body built up fat stores.

 

[Carley]

I also avoid foods that are gas causing.

What foods are gas causing?

 

[Helen]

I'd avoid anything too spicy at least early on. I had a spicy stir-fry when ours were a couple of weeks old and they were sickly with nasty nappies the day after.

 

[coz]

i think u can eat pretty much anything but the midwife said orange juice may cause baby a upset tummy and caffeine can go through into milk and obviously no alcohol xxx

 

[Helen]

I wouldn't worry too much about the alcohol. I wouldn't get roaring drunk, but the odd glass of wine is ok.

Someone, can't remember if it was HV or MW, encouraged me to have a glass of wine to help me relax on a night. After nearly a year of abstinence they didn't need to ask me twice!

 

[Samantha675]

What foods are gas causing?

Beans, for sure. I know that broccoli and especially cabbage get me! Some fiber cerals also make me gassy.

 

[Ragirl]

I ate anything I wanted to- spicy foods, dairy, gassy foods, the occassional caffeine and alcohol. If you begin to notice that your baby is having intestinal issues or rash issues, and you can link it to something you eat, then cut that out then (I had a friend who's little girl developed excema when she ate tomatos and strawberries). But the more diverse your diet, the more diverse the baby's tastes will be. They also say that the more you expose them to different foods while nursing, the less likely they are to develop allergies in the future (there are always exceptions of course!)

 

[mickey]

I eat everything I want to and LO never had any probs.

in the beginning I didn't drink any alkohol and now sometimes half a can of beer as of milk production.

I cut down on coffein (is also found in chocolate).

 

[Carley]

Beans, for sure. I know that broccoli and especially cabbage get me! Some fiber cerals also make me gassy.

I love broccoli eeek

 

[Carley]

I eat everything I want to and LO never had any probs.

in the beginning I didn't drink any alkohol and now sometimes half a can of beer as of milk production.

I cut down on coffein (is also found in chocolate).

I don't think I could cut my chocolate down...How often do you have it? I have around twice a week.

 

[tinytoes]

I wouldn't worry too much about the alcohol. I wouldn't get roaring drunk, but the odd glass of wine is ok.

Someone, can't remember if it was HV or MW, encouraged me to have a glass of wine to help me relax on a night. After nearly a year of abstinence they didn't need to ask me twice!

i read that it takes an hour or two for each unit of alohol to be eliminated. so even after one glass - half pint - of beer we should wait 2 hours before breast feeding. (Or pump some off first)

 

[mickey]

that's why I only drink it, when I am sure I am not going to feed her for the next couple of hours

chocolate and coffee I have in small amounts, I read you would need to eat loads that it would affect your baby. and I read up to two cups of nescafe are okay

 

[supernurse]

I've cut down the amount of tea I drink and I've switched to caffeine free coke to see if that'll make a difference to how settled she is. x

 

[Ratty]

For the first two weeks I had no chocolate. This last week I caved in and have a chocolate plus some chocolate biscuits and it didn't affect my little one at all.

I have switched to decaf coffee as I don't want my LO getting used to caffiene.

Oh and don't have peas anymore They make me fart and give my LO lots of wind...sigh... Basically all green veggies you should have in moderation.